Kingsman is the first hit of the year for those who like their movies dishes with a big dose of high octane, but the dapper spies from this action epic are only the latest in a long tradition of super spies on the movie screen. But is Colin Firth and co. the best at the job?
There is no shortage of choices for today’s topic. The obvious place to start is the extensive gallery of James Bonds – David Niven was the first Bond, but Sean Connery and Roger Moore are often the focus for ‘best of’ debates. Personally I’m more of a Pierce Brosnan fan and Timothy Dalton apologist, while the new generation loves Daniel Craig.
Yet we really, really, really do not need to stop there. Apply the definition wide enough and you can easily include Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Liam Neeson’s skilled Bryan Mills in the Taken films, Steve Carrell in Get Smart, Matt Damon and Jeremy Renner in the Bourne movies, Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible crew and Angelina Jolie’s Evelyn Salt.
What about Jolie and hubby Brad Pitt in Mr & Mrs. Smith or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ass-kicking agent in True Lies? Shall we go more serious and nominate Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or George Clooney in Syriana? Was Vin Diesel actually a spy in XXX? Sure, why not. Then we can also include the forgotten teen classic Teen Spy and those tots from Spy Kids. The doors are open on this one.
Damn, nearly forgot about Austin Frikkin’ Powers!
So let’s have it: who is your favourite spy or even spies? Who would you want next to you went fecal matter profounds across a fan’s surface? Who do you really hope never comes after you, if it came down to that?
Last Updated: February 19, 2015
BlinkFan
February 19, 2015 at 14:59
This just reminds me of the big list of movies I need to watch again. Starting with True Lies!
James Francis
February 19, 2015 at 15:34
I love that movie.
Justin Hess
February 19, 2015 at 15:11
Technically, I’ve never really thought of Bourne as a spy. He deals in black ops wet work covert, admittedly. He doesn’t really collect information, which is how I generally think of spies.
He’s a set of fists hitting, not a a set of eyes watching
James Francis
February 19, 2015 at 15:34
Fair enough, but he was a spook and I figured might as well apply the concept liberally.
Justin Hess
February 19, 2015 at 17:10
No, I’m being pedantic. I think broadly, it falls under Covert Ops , so I think you can group them all together as a genre.
The work isn’t the point so much as it being this secret that ordinary types aren’t privy to
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
February 20, 2015 at 04:52
Sterling “Duchess” Archer. Nuff said. 😛
James Francis
February 20, 2015 at 07:35
Not a movie guy, but I doubt he cares 🙂